Graham Simpson

2 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many professionally-qualified engineers have been employed by each local authority roads department in each year since 2016.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Local authorities are independent corporate bodies responsible for their own workforces. Therefore, the information you request in relation to the number of professionally-qualified engineers employed by local roads authorities to deliver their statutory func…

2 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next review the provision of building control verification services.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Scottish Government monitors all verification services on an ongoing basis through quarterly performance data returns. During the COVID-19 pandemic period individual verification services have been monitored weekly to assess the impacts on workforce capacity…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how (a) much funding has been provided through, (b) many applications have been made to and (c) many applicants have been granted funding from the Spaces for People scheme.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The total funding allocated through Spaces for People is £38,971,108. Ninety seven applications have been made by 35 separate applicants; all 35 applicants have received funding for Spaces for People schemes.

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £700,000 investment fund from Transport Scotland, which gives people the opportunity to use ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs), was distributed to housing associations.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland provides funding to our delivery partner Energy Savings Trust to deliver the Plugged-in Communities (PiC) grant (formerly known as Plugged-in Households) which provides access to ZEV's (Zero Emission Vehicles) as a viable alternative to car…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £51 million for active travel infrastructure that was announced in July 2019 has been allocated to local authorities.

Answer · Michael Matheson: £33.8 million has been allocated to local authorities from the 2019-20 Places for Everyone fund. The remaining balance was allocated as follows:£8.5 million to non-local authorities (e.g. Scottish Canals);£3.5 million to National Cycle Network projects;£0.3 m…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how (a) much funding has been provided through, (b) many applications have been made to and (c) many applicants have been granted funding since 2017 from the Low Carbon Transport Loan scheme.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Since 2016 Transport Scotland has provided funding to our delivery partner Energy Savings Trust to deliver the Low Carbon Transport Loan (LCTL) scheme, which provides an interest free electric vehicle loan with a repayment term of up to 6 years. From the 28 S…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much ScotRail has paid out from its Delay Repay scheme in 2020-21.

Answer · Michael Matheson: ScotRail is required through the Franchise Agreement to provide a delay-repay scheme to passengers, which offers compensation when their journey is delayed by more than 30 minutes. The Delay Repay scheme operates on a railway period reporting basis from Apri…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Maybole Bypass will open.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The construction of the A77 Maybole Bypass project is progressing. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the measures to combat the impact of the pandemic, as confirmed in the recent publication of the Infrastructure Investment Plan in December 2020 completion is …

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how (a) much funding has been provided through, (b) many applications have been made to and (c) many applicants were granted funding from the Cycle Friendly programme.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The requested data* from financial year 2017-18 to date are as follows: a) Total funding provided: £5,754,245 b) Total number of applications: 926 c) Total number of awards: 552 *data provided by Cycling Scotland

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to limit future closures of the Queensferry Crossing due to adverse weather conditions, and what the cost of any such actions will be.

Answer · Michael Matheson: In common with the vast majority of similar cable-stayed bridges world-wide, management of ice-related problems is by weather forecasting, monitoring, visual inspection, and carriageway closures when necessary to safeguard the public. Nevertheless, our long t…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the electrification projects on the (a) East Kilbride and (b) Barrhead railway line.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The recently published Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2 Phase 1) sets out our ambitions for accelerating economic recovery and lays the groundwork for placing inclusive, greener transport options at the heart of future investment. It specifically re…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-34432 by Fiona Hyslop on 20 January 2021, whether it is now in a position to provide an update on the cost estimate for the two vessels under construction at Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Tim Hair, Turnaround Director of Ferguson Marine, is preparing an update for the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee on the delivery timetable and budget for vessels 801 and 802. This will be submitted prior to parliamentary recess on the 25th March and …

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its consultation on free bus travel for under-19s who are resident in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The consultation on free bus travel for people resident in Scotland aged under 19 was carried out between 26 October and 7 December 2020, attracting over 3,000 responses. An analysis of these responses was published on 21 January 2021 together with the respo…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many electrical charging points there are on the A9.

Answer · Michael Matheson: There are 32 charging points across the A9, this is made up of 25 Electric Vehicle charge points hosted by Local Authorities and 7 Electric Vehicle charge points privately hosted.

16 Feb 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures value for money when investing in private companies.

25 Jan 2021 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is helping flat owners affected by dangerous cladding.

12 Jan 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Prison Service’s annual report for 2019-20.

30 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering procuring a catamaran to operate on the Oban-Mull route and, if so, what stage its considerations are at.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government is aware of a potential opportunity to purchase a catamaran being promoted by the vessels owners. It is currently under construction in Indonesia. We understand that discussions are taking place between the vessel’s owner and the Mari…

16 Nov 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister when the Scottish Government expects a Freeport to open in Scotland.

10 Nov 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest police strength statistics.

26 Oct 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on ensuring that planning authorities do not reduce efforts to deliver new homes and other sustainable development during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

20 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in planning for an upgrade of the A82 between Tarbet and Inverarnan.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland is currently taking forward the detailed development and assessment of the preferred option for the scheme, which includes giving detailed consideration to mitigating disruption to road users during construction of this extremely challengin…

29 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the 2019-20 Recorded Crime in Scotland statistics.

7 Sep 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is helping airports to survive during the COVID-19 pandemic.

20 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has conducted of the long-term effect on the night-time economy of the ongoing closure of nightclubs and similar venues in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: While there are no specific Scottish Government statistics for nightclubs or the night-time economy more widely (as it is a wide descriptive term that covers tourism, hospitality, transportation and cultural activities), we do recognise their importance to su…

12 Aug 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the powers that will come to Scotland once the Brexit transition period is concluded.

10 Aug 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that more than a third of culture and leisure trusts in Scotland may not be viable beyond six months.

4 Aug 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme on the rural and tourism economies in Scotland.

27 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to continue distributing food boxes to people who have been shielding from the COVID-19 pandemic, and what its policy is regarding items distributed that the recipient says were not required or not used.

Answer · John Swinney: Free grocery boxes were made available to people who were shielding from COVID-19 to support them in following the shielding advice. For logistical reasons, these were standardised boxes. In those circumstances, it was recognised that some people could choose…

22 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-28463 by Aileen Campbell on 15 May 2020, whether it will provide an update regarding how many people are signed up to the Ready Scotland volunteer scheme, and how many are in a volunteering role.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The ‘Scotland Cares’ campaign was a great success and is testament to the compassion and community spirit of the people of Scotland. As at the week ending Friday 17 July, there were 83,738 sign-ups to the campaign, which was paused on 1 May. The Scotland Car…